JP2015222131A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator which can reduce power consumption while suppressing temperature rise in a storage chamber low, and which has excellent energy saving properties.SOLUTION: A precooling operation S4 is performed in which a first air passage switch 18 communicated with a refrigeration chamber 3 and a second air passage switch 19 communicated with freezing chambers 4-6 are brought into a closed state, and a third air passage switch 20 for communicating a supply air passage 14 and a cooling chamber 13 is brought into an open state, and cooling is performed by circulating air between the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14. After that, a refrigeration chamber and freezing chamber simultaneous cooling operation S5 is performed in which the first air passage switch 18 and the second air passage switch 19 are brought into an open state and the third air passage switch 20 is brought into a closed state, and the air cooled in a cooler 32 is supplied to the refrigeration chamber 3 and the freezing chambers 4-6.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools and stores food and the like in a storage chamber, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that can cool a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment with a single cooler with high efficiency.

  There is a refrigerator that forcibly circulates air cooled by a single cooler to a plurality of storage rooms (storage rooms) having different cold storage temperatures, such as a refrigerator room and a freezer room (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this type of refrigerator, air cooled by a cooler is sent out by a blower and supplied to each storage room such as a refrigerator room and a freezer room. The amount of cold air supplied to each storage room is controlled by a control means such as a damper.

  For example, in the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, a refrigerating room cooling damper (R damper) that controls the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerating room, and a freezer compartment cooling damper (F) that controls the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer room. Damper). And the ventilation volume to each storage chamber is controlled by opening and closing those dampers.

  Also, an operation method for suitably maintaining the temperature of each storage room having a different cold insulation temperature, that is, the order and timing of switching the air path by a control means such as a damper, conditions for stopping the operation of the compressor and the blower, etc. Various methods have been proposed. These operation methods greatly affect the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator, and further energy saving is desired by a suitable operation method.

  For example, in the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 described above, the R damper is opened, the F damper is closed, the cooling operation (R operation) for supplying cold air only to the refrigerator compartment, and the R damper and the F damper are opened. A cooling operation (FR operation) for supplying cold air to the refrigerating room and the freezing chamber at the same time, and a cooling operation (F operation) for supplying cold air only to the freezer room with the R damper closed and the F damper opened. Are sequentially executed.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator of the literature, when switching from the R operation or the FR operation to the F operation, the fan is not operated simultaneously with the start of the F operation, and the operation of the fan is delayed for a predetermined time. Thereby, since it can blow after reducing the temperature of the cooler which is high by R operation or FR operation, it is supposed that warm air can be prevented from flowing into the freezer compartment.

JP 2011-58689 A (pages 8-11, FIG. 6)

  However, the above-described conventional refrigerator has room for improvement from the viewpoint of further reducing the energy consumption by further improving the cooling efficiency while suppressing the temperature rise of the storage room and maintaining the internal temperature within a predetermined range. .

  Specifically, for example, when switching from a cooling operation for cooling a cold room with a high temperature to a cooling operation for cooling a freezer room with a low temperature, immediately after switching the operation, In addition, there is a problem that air having a higher temperature than the freezer compartment in the supply air passage flows into a low-temperature freezer compartment.

  When air having a temperature higher than that in the freezer compartment flows into the freezer compartment, the temperature of the freezer compartment to be kept at a low temperature rises, and as a result, the amount of power consumption for cooling the freezer compartment increases. Of course, an increase in the temperature of the freezer is not preferable from the viewpoint of preventing quality deterioration of food stored therein.

  In order to prevent such a temperature rise in the freezer compartment immediately after the operation switching, the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 delays the start-up of the blower. However, the cooling operation in a state where the blower is stopped has low cooling efficiency, and the effect of suppressing the temperature rise in the freezer compartment is insufficient.

  That is, when the blower is stopped, the heat transfer on the air side of the cooler becomes heat transfer by natural convection, so that the air cannot be cooled efficiently, and the air staying above the cooler and the supply The air in the air path is not cooled sufficiently. As a result, the air that is not sufficiently cooled flows into the freezer compartment while the temperature is high when the blower is started.

  On the other hand, if cooling is performed without operating the blower until the temperature of the air above the cooler or in the supply air passage is sufficiently lowered, the cooling time until the start of blowing becomes longer. Therefore, since the inside of the storage chamber cannot be cooled during that time, the temperature inside the storage chamber rises due to heat penetration from the outside.

  Moreover, in the heat transfer by the natural convection in the state where the blower is stopped, the heat transfer rate is lower than the heat transfer by the forced convection in the state where the blower is operated. For this reason, the heat passage rate of the cooler is reduced, and the air cannot be efficiently cooled, and the temperature difference between the air exchanged by the cooler and the refrigerant becomes large. That is, the evaporation pressure of the refrigerant inside the cooler is lowered. As a result, the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle decreases and the amount of power consumption increases.

  This invention is made | formed in view of said situation, and it aims at providing the refrigerator excellent in energy saving which can reduce power consumption, suppressing the temperature rise of a storage room low.

  The refrigerator of the present invention includes at least a storage compartment partitioned into a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a cooler that cools air supplied to the storage compartment, a cooling compartment that houses the cooler, and the cooling compartment And a supply air passage connecting the storage chamber, a blower for sending air cooled by the cooler from the cooling chamber to the supply air passage, and a supply air passage connected to the refrigerator compartment. 1 air path switch, a second air path switch interposed in the supply air path connected to the freezer compartment, and the air sent out by the blower by communicating the supply air path and the cooling chamber A third air path switch returning from the supply air path to the cooling chamber, the first air path switch and the second air path switch are closed, and the third air path switch is opened. Pre-cooling operation for cooling by circulating air between the cooling chamber and the supply air passage as a state After the pre-cooling operation is performed, the air cooled by the cooler with the first air path switch and the second air path switch opened, and the third air path switch closed. A simultaneous cooling operation of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment supplied to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is performed.

  According to the refrigerator of the present invention, the first air path switch connected to the refrigerating room and the second air path switch connected to the freezing room are closed, and the third air path opening / closing that allows the supply air path and the cooling chamber to communicate with each other. A precooling operation is performed in which the air is circulated between the cooling chamber and the supply air passage and cooled, and then the first air passage switch and the second air passage switch are opened, and the third air passage is opened. The refrigerating room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation for supplying air cooled by the cooler to the refrigerating room and the freezing room with the switch closed is performed.

  In this way, by performing the pre-cooling operation before the refrigerating room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation, the cooler and the surrounding air or the air in the supply air passage can be cooled with high efficiency. Thereby, it can prevent that warm air flows into a freezer compartment etc., when it switches to a refrigerator compartment freezer compartment simultaneous cooling operation. As a result, it is possible to reduce the amount of electric power required for subsequent cooling while suppressing the temperature rise in the freezer compartment or the like.

  Moreover, since the said pre-cooling operation is performed while forcedly circulating air between a cooling chamber and a supply air path with an air blower, the heat exchange efficiency in a cooler is high and the coefficient of performance of a refrigeration cycle is high. Thus, since highly efficient cooling is attained, air can be cooled efficiently in a short time, and the power consumption for pre-cooling can be reduced.

  Before the pre-cooling operation is performed, the first air passage switch is opened, the second air passage switch and the third air passage switch are closed, and the air cooled by the cooler is supplied to the refrigerator compartment. You may perform the refrigerator compartment cooling operation. As a result, the cooling chamber and the supply air passage having a high temperature can be cooled, and the energy consumption for cooling can be further reduced while suppressing the temperature rise of the freezing chamber.

  In addition, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the refrigerator compartment cooling operation, the refrigerator compartment cooling operation is ended and the precooling operation is started, and when the predetermined time has elapsed after the precooling operation is started, the precooling operation is ended. And it is good also as starting cold storage freezer simultaneous cooling operation. In this way, by switching between the cooling room cooling operation and the pre-cooling operation based on each operation time, it is possible to obtain an energy saving effect with simple control without separately providing a temperature sensor or the like for detecting the cooling state. it can.

  Moreover, you may control so that the ventilation capability of the air blower in a refrigerator compartment cooling operation may become low compared with performing the refrigerator compartment simultaneous cooling operation. Thereby, the power consumption amount of the fan and the power consumption amount of the refrigerator in the subsequent cooling operation can be further reduced.

  In addition, after the cooling room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation is performed, the first air path switch and the third air path switch are closed, and the second air path switch is opened and the air cooled by the cooler is frozen. It is good also as performing the freezer compartment cooling operation supplied to a room. Since the freezing room cooling operation is started in a state where the temperature of the refrigerator is lowered by executing the cooling room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation, the temperature increase of the freezing room is suppressed, and the power consumption for cooling can be reduced. it can.

  In addition, before the pre-cooling operation or the cold room cooling operation, the first air path switch is opened, the second air path switch and the third air path switch are closed, and the cooling of the cooler is stopped. You may perform the humidification operation which operates an air blower in a state. As a result, the refrigerator can be cooled by using the cooler that is at a low temperature by performing the freezer cooling operation and the cold heat of the frost (latent heat due to sensible heat and frost melting) attached thereto. Energy saving can be achieved.

  Further, when the freezer compartment cooling operation is terminated, the blower may be stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed since the cooling of the cooler was stopped. As a result, the freezer compartment can be cooled using the cold heat of the cooler immediately after the freezer compartment cooling operation is performed, and the amount of power consumption for cooling can be further reduced.

  In addition, the humidification operation may be started when a predetermined time has elapsed after the freezer compartment cooling operation is completed. Thereby, an energy saving effect can be obtained by simple timer control without providing a separate temperature sensor or the like.

  Furthermore, after the humidification operation is started, when the temperature of the freezer compartment rises to a predetermined value, the humidification operation may be terminated and the pre-cooling operation or the refrigerator compartment cooling operation may be started. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the power consumption for cooling by reducing the operating time of the compressor while suppressing the temperature of the storage chamber from rising beyond the allowable range.

It is a front external view of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view for demonstrating the supply air path of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the structure of the cooling chamber vicinity of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the time chart which shows the operation control of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the temperature change of a storeroom. It is a time chart which shows the modification of the operation control of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the (A) freezing damper vicinity which shows the modification of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and (B) bypass damper vicinity. It is side surface sectional drawing of the cooling chamber vicinity which shows the modification of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail based on drawing.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a heat insulating box 2 as a main body, and forms a storage room for storing food and the like inside the heat insulating box 2. The interior of the storage room is divided into a plurality of storage rooms according to storage temperature and usage. The uppermost stage is the refrigerator compartment 3, the lower left side is the ice making room 4, the right side is the upper freezer room 5, the lower stage is the lower stage freezer room 6, and the lowermost stage is the vegetable room 7. The ice making chamber 4, the upper freezing chamber 5, and the lower freezing chamber 6 are all storage chambers in the freezing temperature range, and these are collectively referred to as freezing chambers 4 to 6 as appropriate in the following description.

  The front surface of the heat insulation box 2 is open, and the heat insulating doors 8a, 8b, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are provided in the openings corresponding to the storage chambers 3 to 7, respectively, so as to be opened and closed. ing. The doors 8a and 8b divide and cover the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the left upper and lower parts of the door 8a and the upper right lower part of the door 8b are rotatably supported by the heat insulating box 2. Moreover, the doors 9 to 12 are each integrally combined with a storage container, which will be described later, and supported by the heat insulating box 2 so as to be able to be drawn out in front of the refrigerator 1.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat insulation box 2 which is the main body of the refrigerator 1 is arranged with a steel plate outer box 2a having an opening on the front surface and a gap in the outer box 2a. It is composed of a synthetic resin inner box 2c having an opening, and a polyurethane foam heat insulating material 2b filled and foamed in a gap between the outer box 2a and the inner box 2c. In addition, a vacuum heat insulating material 2 d is disposed on the back wall portion of the heat insulating box 2.

  The refrigerator compartment 3 and the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezer compartment 5 located at the lower stage are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 34. Further, the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 are partitioned by a partition wall (not shown in the drawing) in which a vent hole through which cool air can flow is formed. Further, the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 and the lower freezing chamber 6 provided in the lower stage communicate with each other so that cold air can flow freely. The lower freezer compartment 6 and the vegetable compartment 7 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 36.

  Furthermore, a shelf 42 and a storage container 43 for storing food and the like are disposed inside the refrigerator compartment 3. Storage pockets 44 and 45 for storing beverage containers and the like are provided inside the doors 8a and 8b. In each of the other storage chambers 4 to 7, storage containers 46, 47a, 47b, and 48 that can be pulled out integrally with the doors 9 to 12 are provided (disposed in the ice making chamber 4). The storage container does not appear in the drawing). Each of the storage chambers 3 to 7 in the storage chamber also includes other storage shelves and storage containers that are not shown in the drawing.

  Further, a machine room 49 is provided at the lower back side of the refrigerator 1. Components such as a compressor 31 that compresses the refrigerant, a radiator (not shown), and a heat radiating fan (not shown) are arranged in the machine chamber 49. The compressor 31, a radiator, a decompression means (not shown) (for example, a capillary tube or an expansion valve), and a cooler 32 are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a vapor compression refrigeration cycle circuit as a cooling device. doing. In the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, isobutane (R600a) is used as the refrigerant. Instead of the above, other types of cooling devices can be used.

  A supply air passage 15 that guides the air cooled by the cooler 32 to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 is formed on the back surface and the top surface of the refrigerator compartment 3. The supply air passage 15 is a space that is sandwiched between the partition 37 made of synthetic resin and the inner box 2 c of the heat insulating box 2. Further, the partition 37 is formed with an air outlet 21 for supplying the cold air flowing through the supply air passage 15 to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  Similarly, a supply air passage 16 connected to the freezing chambers 4 to 6 is formed on the back and top surfaces of the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 and the rear surface of the lower freezing chamber 6. The supply air passage 16 is partitioned from the freezer compartments 4 to 6 by a synthetic resin partition 39. The partition 39 is formed with an air outlet 22 for flowing cold air to the ice making chamber 4, an air outlet 23 for flowing cold air to the upper freezer chamber 5, and an air outlet 24 for flowing cold air to the lower freezer chamber 6. Yes. In addition, each outlet 22-24 is arrange | positioned in the position which can supply cold air efficiently with respect to the food etc. which were accommodated in the storage containers 46, 47a, 47b.

  Further, a supply air passage 14 that is a space partitioned from the supply air passage 16 is formed on the back surface, that is, the back side of the supply air passage 16. The supply air passage 16 and the supply air passage 14 are partitioned by a synthetic resin partition 40.

  The supply air passage 15 connected to the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with a refrigeration damper 18 as a first air passage switch. That is, the supply air passage 15 and the supply air passage 14 communicate with each other via the refrigeration damper 18.

  The refrigeration damper 18 is a motor damper composed of a plate-like body serving as an open / close lid that is pivotally supported on one side and a drive motor. Note that the first air path switch is not limited to this, and other types of switch devices such as a slide-type switch plate may be employed.

  By opening and closing the refrigeration damper 18, it is possible to adjust whether or not air flows from the supply air passage 14 to the supply air passage 15. In addition, by performing an appropriate opening / closing operation of the refrigeration damper 18, the flow rate of the cold air supplied to the refrigeration chamber 3 can be adjusted.

  Further, a return port 27 for returning air to the cooling chamber 13 is provided in the lower part of the lower freezing chamber 6, and a return port 28 is provided in the upper part of the vegetable room 7 for the same purpose.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cooling air passage configuration of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the supply air passage 15 for supplying cold air to the refrigerator compartment 3 is configured to send the cold air to the uppermost portion in the central portion of the refrigerator compartment 3 and then descend from both sides. . Thereby, cold air can be efficiently supplied to the whole inside of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  Moreover, the supply air path 15 is provided with the branch air path branched from the center part to right and left corresponding to the blower outlet 21 formed near upper part of the storage container 43 (refer FIG. 2). Thereby, the inside of the storage container 43 can be efficiently cooled.

  In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a connection air passage 17 for flowing cold air from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 to the vegetable compartment 7. A return port 26 through which cold air from the refrigerator room 3 flows is formed on the side of the refrigerator compartment 3 of the connection air passage 17, and an outlet 25 for supplying cold air to the vegetable compartment 7 is provided on the vegetable compartment 7 side. It has been.

  FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the structure near the cooling chamber 13 of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling chamber 13 is provided inside the heat insulating box 2 and on the back side of the supply air passage 14. The cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14 are partitioned by a synthetic resin partition 38.

  Inside the cooling chamber 13, a cooler 32 for cooling the circulating air is disposed. The cooler 32 according to the present embodiment is a so-called fin-and-tube heat exchanger in which the inside of a circular tube as a heat transfer tube is a refrigerant flow path and the outside of the pipe is an air flow path. In the cooler 32, the liquid refrigerant evaporates inside the heat transfer tube to cool the air outside the tube. Of course, other types of heat exchangers such as a heat exchanger using a flat porous tube or a deformed tube may be used as the cooler.

  A defrost heater 33 is provided below the cooler 32 as defrosting means for melting and removing frost adhering to the cooler 32. The defrost heater 33 is an electric resistance heating type heater protected by a glass tube. In addition, as a defrosting means, it is also possible to employ | adopt other defrost systems, such as hot gas defrost which does not use an electric heater, for example.

  In addition, a feed port 13 a for sending out the cool air cooled by the cooler 32 is formed in the upper front surface of the cooling chamber 13, that is, the surface on the supply air passage 14 side. On the other hand, below the cooling chamber 13, a return port 13 b is formed for sucking the return cold air from the storage chamber into the cooling chamber 13. The return port 13b is connected to the return port 27 of the lower freezing chamber 6 and the return port 28 of the vegetable room via a return air passage 29 (29a, 29b).

  A blower 30 for circulating cold air is attached to the feed port 13a. The blower 30 is an axial-flow blower having a rotary propeller fan, a fan motor (not shown), and a casing (not shown) in which a wind tunnel is formed. In addition, as a blower 30, you may employ | adopt other types of blowers, such as a combination of the propeller fan and motor of a type which is not provided with a casing, a sirocco fan, etc., for example.

  Here, as described above, the partition body 40 divides the supply air passage 16 connected to the freezing chambers 4 to 6 and the supply air passage 14 connected to the cooling chamber 13 via the feed port 13a. Specifically, a synthetic resin partition body 40 formed in a predetermined shape so that the surface facing the cooling chamber 13 is concave on the front surface of the partition body 38, the peripheral edge of which contacts the partition body 38. It is assembled to touch. Further, a synthetic resin partition 39 formed into a predetermined shape is assembled on the front surface of the partition 40 so that the peripheral edge abuts the partition 38.

  Thus, the supply air passage 16 is formed in the back of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 so as to be sandwiched between the partition body 39 and the partition body 40, and is further sandwiched between the partition body 40 and the partition body 38 in the back thereof. A supply air passage 14 is formed. As described above, the refrigerator 1 has the divided supply air passage 16 and supply air passage 14 between the freezing chambers 4 to 6 and the cooling chamber 13, and therefore heat from the cooling chamber 13 to the freezing chambers 4 to 6. Transmission can be reduced.

  In addition, various deformation | transformation can be considered about the contact location and joining method of the partition bodies 38-40. For example, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the peripheral edge of each partition 38 to 40 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the inner box 2c (see FIG. 2) of the heat insulating box 2 and the lower surface of the heat insulating partition wall 34.

  Further, a heat insulating member (not shown) such as a foamed polystyrene (PS) sheet or a foamed polyethylene (PE) sheet may be attached to the partitions 38 to 40, for example. Thereby, the thermal resistance between the cooling chamber 13 and the freezer compartments 4-6 can be enlarged, and the heat transfer from the cooling chamber 13 to the freezer compartments 4-6 can further be reduced.

  In addition, the partition 40 between the supply air passage 16 and the supply air passage 14 is provided with a refrigeration damper 19 as a second air passage switch that allows the supply air passage 16 and the supply air passage 14 to be freely opened and closed. It has been. Further, a bypass damper 20 is provided in a partition region between the supply air passage 14 and the return air passage 29 as a third air passage switch that allows the supply air passage 14 and the cooling chamber 13 to be freely opened and closed.

  In the present embodiment, as the refrigeration damper 19 and the bypass damper 20, so-called motor dampers are employed as in the case of the refrigeration damper 18 described above. Note that other types of opening / closing devices may be used as the refrigeration damper 19 and the bypass damper 20.

  As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes the supply air passage 14 connected to the feed port 13a of the cooling chamber 13, the refrigeration damper 18 interposed in the passage connected from the supply air passage 14 to the refrigerator compartment 3, and the supply. A refrigeration damper 19 interposed in a path connected from the air passage 14 to the freezer compartments 4 to 6 and a bypass damper 20 that connects the supply air passage 14 and the return port 13b of the cooling chamber 13 are provided.

  As a result, the refrigeration damper 19 and the refrigeration damper 18 are both closed, and the bypass damper 20 is opened, so that the air flowing out from the feed port 13a is supplied to the supply air passage 14, the bypass damper 20, the return air passage 29, and the like. An air path that sequentially flows through the return port 13b and returns to the cooling chamber 13 can be formed. That is, in the refrigerator 1, the air pushed out from the cooling chamber 13 to the supply air passage 14 by the blower 30 is returned to the cooling chamber 13 without passing through the storage chamber, and the air between the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14 is returned. Can be circulated.

  In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control device that does not appear in the drawing that performs predetermined calculations and controls each component device, and other various sensors, indicators, and lighting that do not appear in the drawing. .

  Next, the cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 2 to 4 as appropriate. FIG. 5 is a time chart showing an outline of operation control of the refrigerator 1 and a graph showing a temperature change in the storage room.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerator 1 starts from the total stop S 1, is humidified operation S 2, refrigerator compartment cooling operation S 3 (hereinafter referred to as “R cooling S 3”), pre-cooling operation S 4, refrigerator compartment freezer compartment simultaneous cooling operation S 5 ( Hereinafter, the cooling operation cycle in which the freezer cooling operation S6 (hereinafter referred to as “F cooling S6”) is sequentially performed and the operation returns to the all stop S1 is repeated.

  In the total stop S1, the compressor 31 and the blower 30 are stopped (see FIGS. 2 and 4), and the refrigeration damper 18, the refrigeration damper 19, and the bypass damper 20 are closed. That is, the cooling of the storage room is not performed in the all stop S1. Therefore, as shown in the graph of FIG. 5, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 and the lower freezer compartment 6 slightly increases at the total stop S1.

  After executing the F cooling S6 (time T0) and before starting the humidification operation S2 (time T2), reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator 1 through the entire cooling operation cycle by performing the total stop S1. Can do. More specifically, the temperature increase in the freezer compartments 4 to 6 is more moderate in the case where the full stop S1 is performed than in the case where the humidification operation S2 is started immediately after the F cooling S6 is performed. The start-up (time T3) of the machine 31 is delayed. For this reason, when the full stop S1 is performed, it is possible to secure a longer stop time (time from T0 to T3) of the compressor 31, and the power consumption of the refrigerator 1 through the entire cooling operation cycle is small.

  In the refrigerator 1, the total stop S1 is performed for a predetermined time by timer control. Specifically, when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the total stop S1 (time T1), the total stop S1 is ended and the humidification operation S2 is started (time T2). The time for continuing all the stops S1 (time from T1 to T2) is, for example, 7 minutes. Thus, by controlling the time of the total stop S1 by the timer control, it is not necessary to separately provide a temperature sensor or the like for detecting the cooling state or the like, and an energy saving effect can be obtained by simple control.

  In addition, for example, based on the temperature detected by the temperature center (not shown) provided in the refrigerator compartment 3 or the freezer compartments 4-6, the temperature sensor (not shown) provided in the cooling chamber 13, etc. You may control the time which performs stop S1. Specifically, when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3, the freezer compartments 4 to 6 or the cooling compartment 13 rises to a predetermined value, the entire stop S1 may be terminated and the humidifying operation S2 may be started. Moreover, you may control to increase / decrease the time which continues all the stop S1 based on the temperature outside the refrigerator 1 detected by the temperature sensor (not shown) which detects the temperature outside a store | warehouse | chamber.

  After all the stops S1, the refrigerator 1 opens the refrigeration damper 18, operates the blower 30 at a low speed with the cooling of the cooler 32 stopped, and starts the humidifying operation S2 (time T2). The state where the cooling of the cooler 32 is stopped is a state where the operation of the cooling device is stopped, specifically, a state where the compressor 31 is stopped.

  In other words, in the humidifying operation S2, the compressor 31, the refrigeration damper 19, and the bypass damper 20 maintain the same state as the all stop S1. That is, the compressor 31 is stopped, and the refrigeration damper 19 and the bypass damper 20 are closed.

  By performing humidification operation S2, the air cooled by the cooler 32 and the frost adhering to it can be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3. The air flow will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The air cooled by the cooler 32 is discharged from the feed port 13 a of the cooling chamber 13 to the supply air passage 14 by the blower 30.

  Then, the cooling air discharged to the supply air passage 14 passes through the open refrigeration damper 18 and flows to the supply air passage 15, and is supplied from the outlet 21 to the refrigerator compartment 3. Thereby, as shown in the graph of FIG. 5, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 falls, and the food etc. stored there can be cooled.

  The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 flows from the return port 26 to the connection air passage 17 (see FIG. 3), and is supplied from the blower outlet 25 to the vegetable compartment 7. That is, the vegetable compartment 7 is also cooled. And the cold air which circulated through the vegetable compartment 7 returns to the inside of the cooling chamber 13 from the return port 28 through the return air passage 29b and the return port 13b of the cooling chamber 13 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, it is cooled again by the cooler 32.

  As described above, the refrigerator 1 uses the cooling heat (sensible heat) of the cooler 32 that has been subjected to the F cooling S6 and has become low temperature, and the cold heat of the frost (sensible heat and latent heat of frost melting) adhering to the cooler 32. And the refrigerator compartment 3 (and vegetable compartment 7) can be cooled, without operating the compressor 31 (refer the graph of FIG. 5). Thereby, the power consumption for cooling can be reduced.

  Moreover, since the frost adhering to the cooler 32 is melted by the humidifying operation S <b> 2, the amount of heating heat necessary for defrosting is reduced, and the power consumption of the defrost heater 33 can be reduced.

  Further, in the humidifying operation S <b> 2, a humidifying effect can be obtained by the frost melting water adhering to the cooler 32. Thereby, moist air containing moisture can be circulated in the refrigerator compartment 3 (and the vegetable compartment 7), and drying of the food etc. preserve | saved there can be prevented.

  In the humidification operation S2, the blower 30 is operated at a low speed. That is, the rotational speed of the blower 30 in the humidifying operation S2, that is, the blowing capacity is controlled to be lower than when performing the FR cooling S5 and the F cooling S6. Thereby, compared with the case where the air blower 30 is operated at high speed, the power consumption amount of the air blower 30 and the power consumption amount of the refrigerator 1 through the entire cooling operation cycle can be suppressed.

  Next, when the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 rises to a predetermined value, the refrigerator 1 ends the humidification operation S2 and starts R cooling S3 (time T3). By determining the start of the R cooling S3 based on the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 to 6, the operating time of the compressor 31 is reduced while suppressing the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 from exceeding the allowable range. Thus, power consumption for cooling can be reduced.

  At the start of R cooling S3 (time T3), the blower 30, the refrigeration damper 18, the refrigeration damper 19, and the bypass damper 20 maintain the same state as the humidification operation S2, and the compressor 31 is activated. That is, in the R cooling S3, the compressor 31 and the blower 30 are operated with the refrigeration damper 18 in the open state, the refrigeration damper 19 and the bypass damper 20 in the closed state, and the air cooled by the cooler 32 is refrigerated in the refrigerator compartment 3 (and vegetables Supply to chamber 7). In addition, the path | route which circulates the air cooled by the cooler 32 to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 7 is the same as that of humidification driving | operation S2 mentioned above.

  The cooling operation by the cooler 32 in the R cooling S3, that is, the cooling operation by the vapor compression refrigeration cycle circuit will be described in detail. First, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant vapor is compressed into a high-temperature and high-pressure state by the compressor 31 shown in FIG. Then, heat is dissipated with a radiator (not shown). Then, the liquid refrigerant that has been deprived of heat and condensed in the radiator is squeezed and expanded by a capillary tube (not shown) as decompression means, and flows to the cooler 32. In the cooler 32, the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with air and evaporates. As a result, the air in the cooling chamber 13 is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant. The vapor refrigerant evaporated in the cooler 32 is again sucked into the compressor 31 and compressed. The operation described above is continuously repeated to cool the air by the cooler 32.

  As described above, the R cooling S3 is first performed after the compressor 31 is started, thereby cooling the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passages 14 and 15 in which the temperature is high in the humidifying operation S2, and the freezing chamber It can suppress that high temperature air flows into 4-6. Thereby, the energy consumption for cooling can be reduced, suppressing the temperature rise of the freezer compartments 4-6.

  In the R cooling S3, the blower 30 is operated at a low speed. That is, the rotational speed of the blower 30 in the R cooling S3, that is, the blowing capacity is controlled to be lower than that in the FR cooling S5. Thereby, the power consumption of the fan 30 and the power consumption of the refrigerator 1 in the subsequent cooling operation can be further reduced.

  When a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the R cooling S3 (time T3), the R cooling S3 is ended (time T4). Here, the predetermined time (time from T3 to T4) for continuing the R cooling S3 is, for example, 2 minutes. In this way, by controlling the R cooling S3 with the timer as a reference, a separate sensor is not required, and an energy saving effect can be obtained by simple control without being affected by temperature detection errors. Can do.

  After finishing the R cooling S3, the refrigerator 1 operates the blower 30 at a high speed with the refrigeration damper 18 and the freezing damper 19 closed and the bypass damper 20 opened while the compressor 31 continues to operate. Precooling operation S4 is performed.

  In the pre-cooling operation S4, air is forcibly circulated between the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14 by operating the blower 30, and the vapor compression refrigeration cycle is operated to cool the circulating air to the cooler. Cool by 32. The cooling operation by the cooler 32 using the vapor compression refrigeration cycle is the same as that of the R cooling S3.

  In this way, by performing the pre-cooling operation S4 after the R cooling S3, the temperature of the cooler 32 and its surroundings and the inside of the supply air passage 14 are higher than those at the time of the F cooling S6 by executing the R cooling S3. Air can be cooled with high efficiency. Thereby, when switching to FR cooling S5, it can prevent that warm air flows into freezer compartment 4-6. As a result, the amount of electric power required for subsequent cooling can be reduced while suppressing the temperature rise of the freezer compartments 4 to 6.

  Further, since the precooling operation S4 is performed while the air is forcibly circulated between the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14 by the blower 30, the heat exchange efficiency in the cooler 32 is high and the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle is high. Thus, since highly efficient cooling is attained, air can be cooled efficiently in a short time, and the power consumption for pre-cooling can be reduced.

  Here, the pre-cooling operation S4 is performed for a predetermined time by timer control. For example, the predetermined time (time from T4 to T5) for continuing the precooling operation S4 is, for example, 1 minute. Thus, by switching from the pre-cooling operation S4 to the FR cooling S5 based on the operation time, without separately providing a temperature sensor or the like for detecting the cooling state, and without being affected by a temperature detection error or the like, Energy saving effect can be obtained by simple control.

  A temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature is provided in the cooling chamber 13 or the supply air passage 14, and the pre-cooling operation S4 is terminated when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes lower than a predetermined target temperature. It is also good to do. Further, the end of the pre-cooling operation S4 may be determined based on the temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) for defrosting attached to the pipe of the cooler 32.

  Next, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the precooling operation S4 (time T4), the precooling operation S4 is terminated and the FR cooling S5 is started (time T5). Specifically, after the pre-cooling operation S4 is executed, the refrigeration damper 18 and the refrigeration damper 19 are switched to the open state and the bypass damper 20 is switched to the closed state while the operations of the compressor 31 and the blower 30 are maintained. Thereby, the air cooled with the cooler 32 can be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 (and vegetable compartment 7) and the freezer compartments 4-6. That is, in the FR cooling S5, all the storage chambers 3 to 7 in the storage chamber are simultaneously cooled.

  Here, the cooling operation of the cooler 32 in the FR cooling S5, that is, the cooling operation by the vapor compression refrigeration cycle is the same as the R cooling S3 and the precooling operation S4. Moreover, the path | route which circulates the air cooled with the cooler 32 to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 7 is the same as R cooling S3.

  In the FR cooling S <b> 5, the cooled air is circulated in the freezer compartments 4 to 6 in addition to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 7. Hereinafter, the circulation of the cold air to the freezer compartments 4 to 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. A part of the cooling air discharged to the supply air passage 14 passes through the refrigeration damper 19 and flows to the supply air passage 16 and is supplied to the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezer compartment 5 through the air outlets 22 and 23, respectively. Is done. Then, the cold air flows to the lower freezer compartment 6 that communicates below the ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezer compartment 5.

  At the same time, part of the cooling air that has flowed to the supply air passage 16 via the refrigeration damper 19 is supplied from the outlet 24 to the lower freezer compartment 6. Then, the air inside the lower freezer compartment 6 flows from the return port 27 through the return air passage 29 a to the inside of the cooling chamber 13 through the return port 13 b of the cooling chamber 13. In this way, the air cooled by the cooler 32 circulates in the freezer compartments 4 to 6, and cold storage of food or the like is performed.

  Next, when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 is lowered and reaches a predetermined target temperature by executing the FR cooling S5, the FR cooling S5 is terminated and the F cooling S6 is started (time T6). Specifically, in a state where the operation of the compressor 31 is continued, the refrigeration damper 18 is closed and the output of the blower 30 is lowered to operate at a medium speed. That is, in the F cooling S6, the refrigeration damper 18 and the bypass damper 20 are closed and the refrigeration damper 19 is opened, and the air cooled by the cooler 32 is supplied only to the freezer compartments 4-6.

  The cooling operation in the cooler 32 using the vapor compression refrigeration cycle and the path for circulating the air cooled in the freezer compartments 4 to 6 are the same as the FR cooling S5 already described. In the F cooling S6, the air cooled by the cooler 32 is not supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3, but is supplied only to the freezer compartments 4-6.

  Thus, since FR cooling S5 is performed first and F cooling S6 is started in a state where the temperature of the cooler 32 is lowered, the temperature rise of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 is suppressed, and power consumption for cooling is reduced. The amount can be reduced.

  Next, when the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 is decreased by executing the F cooling S6 and reaches a predetermined target temperature, the F cooling S6 is terminated (time T0).

  Here, when the F cooling S6 is finished, the compressor 31 is stopped and the cooling of the cooler 32 is stopped (time T0) in a state in which the refrigeration damper 19 is opened and the blower 30 is continuously operated. That is, even after the compressor 31 is stopped, the operation of the blower 30 is continued (blower delay S0).

  By executing the blower delay S0 in this way, the freezer compartments 4 to 6 can be cooled using the cold heat of the cooler 32 that is at a low temperature immediately after the F cooling S6 is executed (FIG. 5). See graph). Thereby, the power consumption for cooling can be further reduced.

  The time for continuing the blower delay S0, that is, the time from when the cooling is stopped (time T0) to when the refrigeration damper 19 is closed and the blower 30 is stopped (time T1) (time from T0 to T1) is as follows. For example, for 1 minute.

  And the refrigerator 1 will be in the state of all stop S1, after that, the cooling operation cycle of the above-mentioned description is repeated, and highly efficient cooling with little power consumption is performed.

  Next, a modified example of the cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a time chart showing a modified example of the operation control of the refrigerator 1. The configurations or operations already described with reference to FIG. 5 and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. 6, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the example of operation control shown in FIG. 6, R cooling S3 (refer FIG. 5) is not performed. This is the difference from the example of operation control already described with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, in this example, the refrigerator 1 performs a cooling operation cycle in which the humidification operation S2, the pre-cooling operation S4, the FR cooling S5, and the F cooling S6 are sequentially executed from the total stop S1 to return to the full stop S1. repeat.

  Specifically, the refrigerator 1 operates the blower 30 at a low speed with the refrigeration damper 18 opened, the refrigeration damper 19 and the bypass damper 20 closed, and the cooling of the cooler 32 (see FIG. 2) stopped. Then, the humidifying operation S2 is performed (time T2 to time T3).

  After performing the humidification operation S2 (time T3), the refrigerator 1 compresses the refrigeration damper 18 in the closed state and the bypass damper 20 in the open state while maintaining the refrigeration damper 19 in the same state as the humidification operation S2, that is, in the closed state. The machine 31 is started, the blower 30 is operated at high speed, and the pre-cooling operation S4 is performed.

  In the pre-cooling operation S4, air is forcibly circulated between the cooling chamber 13 (see FIG. 2) and the supply air passage 14 (see FIG. 2) by operating the blower 30, and the vapor compression refrigeration cycle is operated. The circulating air is cooled by the cooler 32.

  In this way, by performing the pre-cooling operation S4 after the humidification operation S2, the temperature of the cooler 32 and its surroundings and the supply air path 14 in the supply air passage 14 are higher than those during the F-cooling S6 due to the execution of the humidification operation S2. Air can be cooled with high efficiency.

  Thereby, when it switches to FR cooling S5, it can prevent that warm air flows into freezer compartments 4-6 (refer to Drawing 2), and it cools after that, suppressing a temperature rise of freezer compartments 4-6. Can reduce the amount of power required.

  Next, with reference to FIG.7 and FIG.8, the modification of the refrigerator 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the refrigerator 1, (A) shows the periphery of the refrigeration damper 19, and (B) shows the periphery of the bypass damper 20.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, the refrigeration damper 18 can be provided not in the supply air passage 15 but in a partition region between the supply air passage 14 and the supply air passage 15. In this case, the partition region may be formed by molding a part of the partition body 40 or the partition body 38 into a predetermined shape, or a partition member may be used separately.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the bypass damper 20 may be provided in a partition body 38 that serves as a partition region between the supply air passage 14 and the cooling chamber 13. Even with such a configuration, air can be flowed from the supply air passage 14 to the cooling chamber 13 by opening the bypass damper 20.

  FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing a structure near the cooling chamber 13 of the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, in the return air passage 29a from the lower freezer compartment 6 and upstream of the bypass damper 20, that is, on the lower freezer compartment 6 side, a return damper 50 as a fourth air passage switch. May be provided.

  The return damper 50 is a so-called motor damper, similar to the refrigeration damper 18 and the refrigeration damper 19 described above. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various opening / closing devices can be employed as the feedback damper 50.

  The return damper 50 is opened and closed at the same timing as the refrigeration damper 19. That is, the feedback damper 50 is opened during the FR cooling S5, the F cooling S6, and the blower delay S0 shown in FIG. 5, and during the full stop S1, the humidifying operation S2, the R cooling S3, and the precooling operation S4. It will be in a closed state.

  By providing the return damper 50 and closing it, the return air passage 29a is closed, and warm air circulating through the cooling chamber 13 and the supply air passage 14 returns in the humidifying operation S2, R cooling S3, and precooling operation S4. Inflow (reverse flow) to the lower freezer compartment 6 through the port 27 can be prevented. Thereby, the temperature rise of freezer compartments 4-6 is controlled, and further energy saving can be attained.

  As mentioned above, although the refrigerator 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention was demonstrated, this invention is not limited to this, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Heat insulation box 3 Refrigerating room 4 Ice making room 5 Upper stage freezing room 6 Lower stage freezing room 7 Vegetable room 13 Cooling room 14 Supply air path 15 Supply air path 16 Supply air path 18 Refrigeration damper 19 Freezing damper 20 Bypass damper 30 Blower 31 Compressor 32 Cooler S0 Blower delay S1 Total stop S2 Humidification operation S3 R cooling S4 Pre-cooling operation S5 FR cooling S6 F cooling

Claims (8)

A storage room partitioned into at least a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment,
A cooler for cooling the air supplied to the storage chamber;
A cooling chamber in which the cooler is stored;
A supply air path connecting the cooling chamber and the storage chamber;
A blower for sending air cooled by the cooler from the cooling chamber to the supply air path;
A first air path switch interposed in the supply air path connected to the refrigerator compartment;
A second air path switch interposed in the supply air path leading to the freezer compartment;
A third air path switch that communicates the supply air path with the cooling chamber and returns the air sent out by the blower from the supply air path to the cooling chamber;
Precooling in which the first air path switch and the second air path switch are closed and the third air path switch is opened and air is circulated between the cooling chamber and the supply air path for cooling. Drive,
After performing the pre-cooling operation, the first air path switch and the second air path switch are opened, the third air path switch is closed, and the air cooled by the cooler is stored in the refrigerator compartment. And a refrigerator that performs simultaneous cooling operation of the freezer compartment supplied to the freezer compartment. A refrigerating room cooling operation in which the air cooled by the cooler is supplied to the refrigerating room with the first air path switch in an open state, the second air path switch and the third air path switch in a closed state. Done
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the precooling operation is performed after the refrigerator compartment cooling operation is performed. When a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the cold room cooling operation, the cold room cooling operation is terminated and the precooling operation is started.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein when a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the precooling operation, the precooling operation is terminated and the refrigerator-freezer simultaneous cooling operation is started.   4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the air blowing capacity of the blower in the cold room cooling operation is controlled to be lower than that in the cold room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation. . Opening the first air path switch, closing the second air path switch and the third air path switch, operating the blower in a state where cooling of the cooler is stopped, and Performing a humidifying operation for supplying air that has been humidified by melting frost attached to the vessel to the refrigerator compartment,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the precooling operation is performed after the humidification operation is performed. Opening the first air path switch, closing the second air path switch and the third air path switch, operating the blower in a state where cooling of the cooler is stopped, and Performing a humidifying operation for supplying air that has been humidified by melting frost attached to the vessel to the refrigerator compartment,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the refrigerator operation is performed after the humidification operation. After performing the cooling room freezing room simultaneous cooling operation, the first air path switch and the third air path switch were closed, and the second air path switch was opened and cooled by the cooler. Performing a freezer cooling operation for supplying air to the freezer;
When ending the freezer compartment cooling operation, the cooling of the cooler is stopped in a state where the second air path switch is opened and the blower is continuously operated, and the cooling of the cooler is stopped. The refrigerator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein after the predetermined time has elapsed, the blower is stopped by closing the second air path switch. When a predetermined time has passed since the freezer compartment cooling operation was terminated, the humidification operation is started,
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the humidifying operation is terminated when the temperature of the freezer compartment rises to a predetermined value.

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